Last Updated on: 10th July 2023, 11:42 am
5 Things You Should Know About Working Hours And Overtime in The UAE
If you are working as a full-time employee in the private sector in the UAE, it is important that you understand maximum working hours, overtime rights, and how you will be compensated.
The regulations on working hours and maximum time before breaks are laid down in Articles 17, 18, and 19 of Federal Decree No. 33 of 2021, also known as the UAE Labor Code.
As a reminder, here are five key points that all employees should keep in mind:
Daily program of 8 hours and weekly program of 48 hours
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has highlighted 4 crucial elements regarding working hours in the UAE private sector.
These include:
- The normal working day is 8 hours and the normal working week is 48 hours.
- Travel time is not included in the working day, except in certain circumstances.
- Working hours are defined in the employment contract for non-traditional working hours.
- It is forbidden to work more than 5 hours without a break of at least 1 hour.
When does travel time count as working time?
According to a 2022 law, there are 3 situations where travel time is counted as working time:
- If the employee is late for his trip due to bad weather.
- When the employee is delayed due to an accident or emergency using transportation provided by the employer.
- If the employer and employee have agreed in writing that the travel time will be counted as working time.
Daily overtime must not exceed 2 hours
UAE labor law states that an employer can require an employee to work overtime, but only 2 hours per day.
Overtime pay is 25-50% above the base salary
The UAE government’s official website states that a worker who works overtime will be paid 25% more than their base salary. If the worker works between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., he will receive 50% more salary. However, this rule does not apply to workers who work shifts.
Not all overtime is eligible for a bonus
Some workers may not receive additional pay for overtime, such as:
- President and members of the Company’s Board of Directors.
- Supervisors who have delegated powers from the employer.
- Crew members of ships and sailors who are subject to special working conditions.
- Persons whose technical activity requires continuous shift work provided that they do not work more than 56 hours per week on average.
Also Read: Investors Are Flocking To The UAE Due To The New Visa Regulations And Ease Of Doing Business
